The Power of Sibling Bonds How Teen Relationships Shape Growth and Support BY AMANDA MILLER PHOTO BY PROTOOLEH ON FREEPIK.COM
18 FEBRUARY 2025 | NOLAFAMILY.COM WHY IT’S IMPORTANT A sibling relationship can be one of the longest relationships a teen experiences, and they’re one of the most important. Dr. Shawn Sidhu, a psychiatrist with a specialty in behavioral health, shares that a child may be more likely to confide G rowing up with a sibling means forever having a built-in best friend who helps make navigating the younger years, the teen years, and even the adult years a little easier. This relationship proves to be especially essential during the teen years, when experiencing breakups, bullies, friendship struggles, and life transitions are common. However, nurturing the sibling relationship doesn’t always happen, causing many to miss out on the many benefits of having a sibling during the teen years in the first place.
in a sibling than a parent and may seek a sibling’s support in time of need. Dr. Sidhu says, “This piece is critical, because we know that one of the biggest risk factors for developing youth is suffering in isolation. The ability for young people to express their feelings to anyone— sibling, parent, or friend—can be highly therapeutic and can prevent a worsening of depressed mood or anxiety.” Establishing this relationship is crucial in helping provide an outlet to these growing teens, and they also provide an assortment of other benefits in terms of emotional support, shared experiences, and more practical support, such as— remember when you had to take Geometry? THE VALUE OF SIBLING BONDS Providing emotional support. Whether navigating through breakups,
broken friendships, grief, or even stress or anxiety, having a sibling through it all can be beneficial. They are there to offer a listening ear, provide insight and wisdom, and help introduce healthy coping mechanisms—and a sibling can see the full picture unlike anyone else. Clinical psychologist Laurie Kramer, PhD, says, “Siblings often have a better sense of what you’re experiencing with peers or with parts of your world that parents don’t have access to or don’t see in the same way. That shared perspective is one of the facets that makes sibling relationships so valuable for child development.” Sharing experiences. When a teen is navigating through his or her parents’ divorce, family financial struggles, or caring for aging parents, having a sibling to share the experience
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